Best Scenic Drives in the Black Hills
Six routes, mapped and timed, from the granite tunnels of Needles Highway to the waterfalls of Spearfish Canyon
Updated: July 5, 2026
The Black Hills is a driving destination. The region's best scenery is strung along a handful of engineered mountain roads, narrow granite tunnels, pigtail bridges that loop over themselves, and byways that pass bison herds and 1,000-foot canyon walls. This guide covers the six drives worth planning a day around, with real distances, drive times, vehicle restrictions, and the best time to drive each one. The tightest squeeze is the Needles Eye Tunnel on Needles Highway, listed at 8 feet 0 inches wide by 9 feet 9 inches high by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Guided Scenic Drive Tours
Skip the navigation and let a local driver handle the tunnels and switchbacks, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and Wildlife Loop tours, bookable instantly on Viator.
Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony
Experience the stunning beauty of the Black Hills on this unforgettable private afternoon & evening tour, designed to highlight the region’s most scenic drives & end with the Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony. First, we visit the tranquil Sylvan Lake, nestled among pine-covered hills & dramatic rock formations. We continue with a picturesque journey along the legendary Needles Hwy, where towering granite spires, narrow tunnels, & sweeping views create an unforgettable drive. You’ll have plenty of time for photo stops, short walks, and commentary from your knowledgeable local guide. Then, travel the engineering marvel of Iron Mt Rd, known for its pigtail bridges, scenic switchbacks, & tunnels that perfectly frame Mt Rushmore in the distance. We arrive at Mt Rushmore with time to explore, then as night falls, gather at the amphitheater for the Lighting Ceremony, a patriotic & heartfelt experience that includes a short film, tribute to veterans, & the illumination of the iconic carvings.
Stars & Stripes: Mount Rushmore Night Ceremony
Discover the best of the Black Hills on this unforgettable evening adventure. Your tour begins with a scenic drive along the world-famous Iron Mountain Road, a winding masterpiece with pigtail bridges, mountain vistas, and tunnels leading to Mt. Rushmore. Along the way, your guide shares insightful stories of the region’s history, people, and natural beauty. Arriving at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, we’ll stroll the Avenue of the Flags for a first close-up view of the monument. Your guide will bring the story of its creation to life with engaging details about the vision, artistry, and challenges behind this American landmark. As night falls, you’ll take part in the moving Evening Illumination Ceremony, where patriotic music and storytelling culminate in the dramatic lighting of the monument. This tour blends breathtaking scenery with cultural heritage and national pride, making it one of the most memorable ways to experience Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
Icons of the West: Black Hills & Badlands 3-Day Tour
This tour covers the three major areas of the Black Hills and Badlands. You can put down the planning, and relax as we take you to the significant points of interest. At times, we may deviate from the itinerary for some surprise visits. We can spend more or less time at each location based on your interests. Our guides are trained in a way that enhances your experience on so many levels. We care about your time here most of all and are willing to go out of our way to ensure you have an excellent experience. Photography is something we love as well, and photos will be provided at the end of each day, free of charge.
PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park
The best of the Black Hills in one day! Our most popular tour, and a wonderful way to make the most of your time in the beautiful Black Hills. Our experienced, local guides will take you to the highlights of the area. Private tour means you have more time to enjoy the things you want to see, a truly unique and personal experience. This tour is customizable. Questions? Contact us for more information.
Exclusive: Rushmore, Custer State Park & Crazy Horse
Welcome to My XO Adventures! This is your tour, for your group! We don't mix with strangers on this adventure to ensure it's extraordinary. Your tour will be unscripted, unique, and back-road driven. We are always tuned in to your particular interests and automatically adjust accordingly. We aim to ensure you've had the most amazing experience possible. We do what we want, when we want, where we want. Think of it as the difference between a fast-food burger and a gourmet steak. We’ll customize your experience based on your interests, timing, and comfort level. Our extensive knowledge of the Black Hills means you’ll see famous spots and hidden gems that other tours can’t reach. This is your exclusive adventure, designed to create unforgettable memories in the Black Hills. We'll take you anywhere in the Black Hills within an 8-10 hour time period. Lunch is included.
Private Half Day Mt Rushmore & Black Hills Tour
Take in the best of the Black Hills on this half-day tour. We visit the must-see's of Mt Rushmore, Needles Hwy, Sylvan Lake and Iron Mountain Road. Experience Mt Rushmore with a local expert and make the most of your time in the Black Hills.
Prices and availability provided by Viator. We earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Most visitors fly into Rapid City and base themselves there or in Keystone near Mount Rushmore. From either, every drive below is within an hour. If you only have one day, skip to the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, it folds the best of the southern Hills into a single 68-mile loop.
Quick Answer
The most scenic single drive is Needles Highway. The best one-day route is the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway loop. The best fall-color drive is Spearfish Canyon. Two of these routes, Needles Highway and the Wildlife Loop, run through Custer State Park and require a park entrance license.
“The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations, which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.”
Needles Highway (SD-87)
Distance
14 miles
Drive Time
45–60 min
Season
May–Oct
Highlight
Granite spires & narrow tunnels
Often called the most scenic drive in South Dakota, Needles Highway threads through the Cathedral Spires and a series of tunnels carved straight through solid granite. The Needles Eye Tunnel is the tightest at 8 feet 0 inches wide and 9 feet 9 inches high.
Know before you go: Not suitable for large RVs or vehicles over 8’4″ wide or 11′ tall. Drive it early, the small pull-outs fill fast in summer.
Iron Mountain Road (US-16A)
Distance
17 miles
Drive Time
45–60 min
Season
Year-round (tunnels May–Oct)
Highlight
Pigtail bridges & Rushmore tunnels
An engineering marvel connecting Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore. Three wooden "pigtail" bridges loop over themselves, and three one-lane tunnels are deliberately aligned to frame the Mount Rushmore carving as you approach from the south.
Know before you go: Not suitable for vehicles over 10′ tall. Approach from the south (Custer State Park) for the best framed views of Mount Rushmore through the tunnels.
Wildlife Loop Road
Distance
18 miles
Drive Time
1–2 hours
Season
Year-round
Highlight
Free-roaming bison & burros
The best place in the region to see Custer State Park's 1,300 free-roaming bison, plus pronghorn, prairie dogs, and the famous “begging burros.” The paved loop winds through open grassland, classic Western scenery.
Know before you go: Drive at dawn or dusk for the most active wildlife. Stay in your car if bison block the road and never approach them.
Spearfish Canyon Byway (US-14A)
Distance
22 miles
Drive Time
45 min
Season
Year-round (best in fall)
Highlight
Waterfalls & limestone walls
A National Scenic Byway following Spearfish Creek through 1,000-foot limestone walls. Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls, and Roughlock Falls are all short walks from the road. The aspens and birches make this the best fall-color drive in the Black Hills.
Know before you go: Paved and RV-friendly the whole way. Peak fall color is usually late September to mid-October.
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
Distance
68-mile loop
Drive Time
Half to full day
Season
May–Oct
Highlight
Combines the best of the southern Hills
A 68-mile loop that ties together Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and part of the Wildlife Loop. If you only have one day for scenic driving, this is the route, it covers Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Cathedral Spires, and Sylvan Lake in a single circuit.
Know before you go: Allow a full day with stops. Start early from Keystone or Custer to beat midday traffic on the tunnels.
Badlands Loop Road (SD-240)
Distance
31 miles
Drive Time
1–2 hours
Season
Year-round
Highlight
Otherworldly rock formations
About an hour east of Rapid City, the Badlands Loop is a worthwhile day-trip detour from the Black Hills. The road follows the rim of the Badlands wall past dozens of overlooks, with bighorn sheep and bison frequently visible from the pull-outs.
Know before you go: Combine with the Minuteman Missile site and the Wall Drug stop. Sunrise and sunset light the formations dramatically.
Planning Your Scenic Drive Day
The southern Black Hills routes, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and the Wildlife Loop, sit close enough to chain together in a single day via the Peter Norbeck Byway. Spearfish Canyon is in the northern Hills near Deadwood and is better paired with a Deadwood day. The Badlands Loop is east of the Hills entirely and works best as its own day trip from Rapid City.
- Start early. The single-lane tunnels on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road back up by mid-morning in summer.
- Check your vehicle height. RVs and tall vehicles cannot clear the Needles tunnels, plan an alternate route.
- Buy the Custer State Park license once. It covers both Needles Highway and the Wildlife Loop for the day.
- Time it with the season. See our best time to visit the Black Hills guide, fall is unbeatable for scenic drives.
Prefer to Hike Instead?
Many of these drives double as trailheads. Sylvan Lake (on Needles Highway) is the launch point for Black Elk Peak, the highest summit east of the Rockies. See our best hikes in the Black Hills guide to pair a drive with a walk, or browse all things to do in the Black Hills.